Category Archives: STEC

CDC 2011 Foodborne Disease Figures

Posted on July 30, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CDC

The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) conducts active population-based surveillance in ten areas (Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, and selected counties in California, Colorado, and New York) for laboratory-confirmed cases of infection caused by Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Listeria, Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC, including STEC O157 and STEC non-O157), Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia.

FoodNet also conducts surveillance for postdiarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of STEC infection characterized by renal failure and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, through a network of pediatric nephrologists and infection-control practitioners. Hospital discharge data are reviewed to validate HUS diagnoses and verify the presence of diarrhea in the 21 days before HUS onset. This report contains preliminary postdiarrheal HUS data for 2010, rather than for 2011, because additional time is needed to review hospital records.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, CDC, Cryptosporidium, E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella, Shigella, STEC

US – Non – O157 Testing Preliminary Results

Posted on July 18, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

On June 4, food regulators began screening beef for six more strains of E. coli beyond the already-monitored E. coli O157:H7. Since that time, 110 samples of beef trim have been tested for non-O157 E. coli; 3 were found to be carrying these bacteria. 
 
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service published these initial findings in a results chart this week. The three positive test results represented three different strains of E. coli: O45, O103 and O145, each of which was found once. No samples have yet tested positive for the other three strains: O26, O111 and O121.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O104, E.coli O145, E.coli O157, E.coli O26, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, STEC, USDA

Tagged , ,

Ireland – E.coli in Creches

Posted on June 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Longford Leader

Four Longford children have been hospitalised after a recent outbreak of E.coli in two Co Longford creches.

 

Over the past six weeks there have been two outbreaks of verotoxin producing the E.coli infection in Co Longford, which predominantly affected young children. Four children who were hospitalised have since been discharged home. As a precautionary measure, two crèches were closed for a period of time but both have since re-opened.

It is understood the Department of Public Health carried out screening of all other children who attended the same crèches as the children affected. This is in accordance with the national guidelines on the management of these infections.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, STEC

Tagged , ,

US Multi State E.coli O145 Outbreak

Posted on June 7, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Florida is part of an E coli outbreak that includes Georgia and Louisiana, according to the Florida Department of Health. A spokesperson for the Florida DOH told Food Poisoning Bulletin that a case has been confirmed and that they are “using routine processes and working closely with the CDC in the investigation of a potential commonality.”

News of this multi-state outbreak began this week with the death of a toddler in New Orleans. Our investigation has found that Georgia and Florida also have patients ill with the same strain of E. coli 0145. No particular source has been pinpointed as the cause of this outbreak.

The CDC has not released any information about the outbreak. The case count is as follows:

  • Florida (1)
  • Georgia (5)
  • Louisiana (3) (1 death)

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O145, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, HUS, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, STEC

Tagged

Oregon Raw Milk Farm – Cows, Milk and Surfaces Positive E.coli O157

Posted on April 18, 2012 by | Leave a comment

E.coli Blog

Four children are hospitalised; a total of five confirmed with E. coli – as many as seventeen sick

Oregon Public Health officials today report test results of samples taken from Foundation Farm cows, manure and surfaces as well as raw milk from a farm customer are positive for E. coli O157.

The samples came from leftover milk recovered from one household, rectal swabs from two of four cows, and multiple manure and other environmental samples collected at the farm.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, STEC

Tagged , , ,

USA – Raw Milk Link Between Recent E.coli O157 Cases

Posted on April 10, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Columbia Daily Tribune

An epidemiologist with the Columbia-Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services in central Missouri has confirmed with Food Safety News that three cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in Boone County share raw milk as a common potential source of contamination.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, STEC

Tagged

E.coli O157 – Missouri – 5 Cases – Source Unknown

Posted on April 7, 2012 by | Leave a comment

MDHSS 

Ecoli Blog

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is investigating an increase in cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Central Missouri during late March and early April, 2012. Five cases of E. coli O157:H7 have been identified during this time period. Two of the cases, a two-year old child and a seventeen-month old child, reportedly have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe, life-threatening condition that may result in permanent kidney damage in some of those who survive.

The investigation is ongoing and the source of the infections has not been identified.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, STEC

Bad Bug New Release

Posted on April 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA

This book is a great source of Microbiology Information and can be downloaded as a 264 page PDF.

The second edition of the Bad Bug Book3, published by the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides current information about the major known agents that cause foodborne illness. The information provided in this handbook is abbreviated and general in nature, and is intended for practical use. It is not intended to be a comprehensive scientific or clinical reference. Each chapter in this book is about a pathogen – a bacterium, virus, or parasite – or a natural toxin that can contaminate food and cause illness. The book contains scientific and technical information about the major pathogens that cause these kinds of illnesses. A separate “consumer box” in each chapter provides non-technical information, in everyday language. The boxes describe plainly what can make you sick and, more important, how to prevent it.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, Cryptosporidium, E.coli, E.coli O104, E.coli O157, E.coli O26, EHEC, Enterobacteriaceae, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Legionella, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, MRSA, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, STEC

Not Food but HPA Update on Petting Farm Hand Washing

Posted on April 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

HPA 

Ahead of the petting farm season, the HPA is reminding people, especially those with responsibility for young children, to enjoy their farm visits safely by ensuring good hand hygiene after touching farm animals or their surroundings.

Outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness associated with contact with farm animals peak in the spring and summer as this coincides with schools holidays when visits to petting farms tend to be more popular, although outbreaks can occur at other times.

The route of transmission in these illnesses, which include the infections E. coli O157 and Cryptosporidium, is direct contact with animals in petting and feeding areas as well as contact with the droppings of animals on contaminated surfaces around farms.

HPA Hand Wash Poster

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Cryptosporidium, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, STEC

US – E.coli O157 Alert in Imported Canadian Products

Posted on March 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

E.coli Blog 

USDA

Sysco Seattle Inc. is recalling approximately 16,800 pounds of ground beef patties distributed to restaurants in Colorado, Arizona, Texas and Washington because of possible E. coli contamination according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The producer, New Food Classics of Burlington, Ontario, notified Sysco Seattle of the possible contamination earlier this month.

The following products are subject to recall:

•10 lb. boxes of PRIME RIB BEEF PATTIES 8 oz, with product code 55317, and production code 11 NO 22.

•10 lb. boxes of PRIME RIB BEEF PATTIES 71g, with product code 55391 and bearing a production code of 11 SE 01 or 12 JA 04.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, STEC, USDA